Page 127 of I Hope This Finds You Well

“I got you a donut,” I say, pushing the yellow box I’m holding across the table toward him.

He opens it up, taking in the rainbow-colored icing and sprinkles. He puts a hand to his chest and his lips part just a little. “This is amazing.”

“I think I owe you at leas—”

“No outside food!” the tired teen shouts from behind the ice-cream counter.

“Honestly, I did not expect them to care,” I say, and we both chuckle as Cliff closes the lid and pushes the box to the end of the table.

“So,” I start. “It’s official. You’re off the Supershops books.”

Cliff brightens. “Now we can say what we really think of that place.” The curl of his lips, the brightness in his eyes—they feel like home.

“Did you end up changing your pick for who you’d kill for a billion dollars?”

Cliff quirks his lip. “Oh, definitely Gregory. And I think he knows it too. We didn’t exactly part on great terms. Sent quite the report to corporate before I put in my notice.”

A satisfied thrill races through me at the thought of Gregory getting beat down by his own beloved corporate machine.

“When do you start the new gig?” I ask.

He swallows a sip of shake before answering: “Next week.” His face is bright and his passion comes through as he speaks. “I’m really excited about it. Nothing like Supershops. This time I’ll be focusing on large corporations that don’t yet have structures in place for employees to advocate for themselves.” He raises a brow in my direction. “I’ll be empowering them to organize and negotiate.”

“Amazing,” I say. It’s perfect for him. He’ll be so much happier at his old place. I take a sip of the shake to smother the empty feeling swirling inside.

Cliff continues. “In fact, some of the people I’ll be meeting with are employees at Supershops Incorporated.” His grin turns teasing. “Seems like the mass layoffs made some people recognize a major need for more employee protections.”

“Clifford!” I pull my hand to my chest. “Are you being a hero?”

His sheepish smile, I missed it—and I’m going to miss itso much. “I can’t help it,” he says. “That job was the wrong fit, but it helped me find the right one.”

He’s right, and a deeper part of me is genuinely happy for him. “That’s really great.”

I look out the window, toward the gas station across the street. The one he told me his grandma used to work at. “Is Grace happy you’re moving back to Vancouver?”

Cliff shakes his head. “Jolene, I wasn’t clear. I’m working for my old company, but the projects will be here.”

“What?” My chest swells, afraid to hope.

Cliff lets the straw hover beneath his lips before answering. “Sanjay and I talked. He’s expanding the company, and I convinced him he needed a guy in Calgary.”

He’s staying. A million emotions race through my brain. I want to say so much, but when I open my mouth, all that comes out is a puff of air.

“I couldn’t leave my family again,” Cliff says, leaning closer. “But I need to be happy too.”

My heart does a somersault as the hope rushes higher in my chest. “I’m so happy for you!”

“So,” Cliff says carefully. “I’m not moving, we’re not at Supershops. What do we do from here?”

“We can try to be friends again?” I ask.

His gaze shifts to the donut box on the table before locking back on to me. “We agreed to be completely honest from now on?” He says it like a question as he leans closer. “Are we okay just being friends? Has it ever worked for us?”

I swallow down the lump in my throat. It feels impossible, but I’ve wanted to tell him for so long. I thought I never would get the chance. “Cliff, I like you more than anyone else.”

His smile is instantaneous, so bright it hurts to see. “I know.” His lips quiver with emotion. “I emptied your desk drawer, remember? I knowexactlyhow you feel. You’re maybe a little obsessed with me?”

I mock flick his straw. “You’re the one who showed up at the office at midnight, who came to my apartment—and that was all sweet, but I’m just saying...”